Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines.



A. H. DE VOE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION mmNov. lo, 1913.

1,1 2,608. Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. H. DE VOE.-

FEEDING` MECHANISM Fon SEWING- MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l0, 1913- Patemed July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET. 2.

WITNESSES:

ALBERT H. DE VE,IOF WESTFIELD, NEW JRSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE SINGER MANU- FACTUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. i

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

aisance.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Original application filed September 6, 1912, Serial No. 718,807. Patent No. 1,164,789, dated December 21,

1915. Divided and this application filed November 10, 1913. Serial No. 800,037. l

To all whom it may concern.'

lBe it known that l, ALBERT H. DE Von, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanisms for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention hasl for its primary object to provide a sewing machine with feeding mechanism and with automatically acting controlling means `therefor whereby the work is advanced by groups of feeding movements, the feeding movements of each group differing from those of, the adjacent groups.

The invention is adapted especially for use in connection with the stitch-forming and cord-guiding mechanism forming the subject of my Patent No. 1,164,789, dated December 21, 1915, of which the present application is a division.

ln the aforesaid pending application means are provided for applying to one of the flaps of a Japanese shoe or tabiupper a cord which is doubled at the upper edge of the flap and led downwardly in two parallel branches. Each branch of the cord is fastened to the flap by spaced groups of tacking-stitches connected by series of straight-away stitches. Thus between each group of tacking-stitches a cord-loop is formed, said loop being adapted to receive a flat metallic fastener secured to the face of the other tabi flap. i

In forming the taclring-stitches which secure the cord to the tabi flap it is desirable to mass the same at the points which receive the greatest strain in use. And to this end` the feeding mechanism of the present invention is adapted to impart a continuous slow advancing movement to the workduring the formation of the backing-stitches whichv secure the cord at the upper edge of the tabi flap, and said mechanism is also adapted to feed the work in such' manner that in the subsequent spaced groups of *racking-stitches a few stitches are massed at the ends of each cord-loop.

In its preferred embodiment the present improvement comprises a feed-dog and feedlifting and feed-reciprocating eccentric therefor. A controlling cam is employed to vary the action of the feed-reciprocating eccentric and, periodically, to render said eccentric ineffective during the continuous advance of the feed-dog by means actuated by said controlling cam, during which periods the feed-dog is maintained in raised position and the feed-lifting eccentric is rendei-ed ineffective. At the completion of a predetermined number of tackforming cycles the controlling cam is adapted to be automatically uncoupled from its driving means.

The invention will be understood in its details of construction by reference to the accompanying drawings, vin whichi Figure 1 is a front side-elevation of a twoneedle sewing machine embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the component parts of the feeding mechanism. Fig. i is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 3 from the under side thereof, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the controlling cam and the releasing means therefor. Fig. G is a face view of a portion of a tabl-flap showing cord-loops secured thereto in accordance with ythe present invention.

rlhe invention is shown applied to a sewing machine constructed with the bed-plate A, hollow standard B, and overhanging tubular arm D in which is journaled the vmain shaft 1 carrying at its rearward end the balance-wheel 2 with belt-pulley 3.

Journaled in the head of the overhanging arm, is a tubular needle-bar 4: on the lower end of which is secured the needle-clamp 5 carrying the joggingneedle 6. The mainshaft is provided with the usual quartering cranks 7 embraced by straps at the upper ends of the pitmen 8 whose lower ends are similarly provided with straps embracing the quartering cranks 9 of the lower shaft 10, provided with the feed-actuating eccentric 11. Upon the upper side of the eccentric 11 restsy the flat operative face 12 of a lateral arm 13 fixed upon the rocking sleeve 14 which is `iournaled upon the rock-shaft 15, mounted in the bearing members 16 depending from the bed-plate. The rock-shaft 15 has fixed upon its rearward end the depending and laterally extending arm 17 having a wearing face 18 adapted for engagementwith the opposite side of the cam 11 whichis -fitted the slide block 23fhaving f pivotally connected therewith one end ofr a bent link 24-whose apertured oppositeend is connected by means of the yScrew-pin 25 with the upwardly extending arm 26 secured upon the feed rock-shaft 27. The sliding connection between the arm17 and the link 24 is shifted toward and from therock-shaft 15 b means of a linkr 29 pivotally connected by the pin 29 to the link 24 at its lower end and attached at its upper end to the lateral arm 30 of the yfeed-regulator rock-shaft 31 journaled in and transversely yof the standard B and having fixed to its rearward end the finger-lever 32. lIn its forward end the feed rock-shaft 27 hasy secured thereon the crank arm 33 carrying the "stud-screw 34 which enters the apertured extremity of the feed-bar 35 to which is secured the usual feeddog 36. The opposite end of the feed-bar is formed with the fork 37 which is in practice entered by a slide block 38 carried by the lateral arm 39 upon the forward end of the feed-lifting rock-shaft 40 to whose rearward f end is secured the hub 41 of a laterally extending arm 41 adapted to rest upon ythe feed-lifting eccentric 42 fixed upon the lower shaft 10. The hub 41 is provided in its top at one side of the rock-shaft 40 with a socket betweeny the bottom of which and the under side of the bed-'plate A is inserted a spring 43 which normally presses thearm 41 downwardly into operative relation with the liftf ing cam 42. The feed-actuating arm 17 is formed at its outer extremity with a lateral seat 17 to which is secured by means' of the screw 44 the base of an armn45 formedv with a'transverse socket 46 in which is journaled the slide pin 47 carrying. at its youter end the roller-stud 48. The enlarged rearward end or head of the pin 47 is pressed backwardly by means of a spring 49.interposed between the same and the inner'end of the socket, so as to maintain'the roller-stud 48 normally retracted yinto operative relation with an outer cam-track formed upon the lower face of a cam-wheel C which, as hereinafter described, is ladapted to control the feeding movements of the feed-dog 36.

Secured upon thedower shaft 10 is a worm 51 meshing with the worm-wheel 52 which is shown formed integral with the sleeve 53 journaled upon the-tubular bearing stud 54 formed with a collar 55 vsecured in 'xed positionto the 7lower yface of the bed-plate byl means of screws56. The sleeve 53 is provided with the Coupling aisk 57 formed with an annular series of uniformly spaced appertures 58. Within the tubular bearing stud ,is journaled the tubular hub 59 of a disk 60 formed in its lower face with a radialchannel 61` within which is fitted the rigid arm 62 secured, to the shouldered lower end of the coupling rod 63 towhich it is fastened by means of the nut6`4.

The rod 63 is extended upwardly through the hub 59 of the disk 60 and has fixed upon y its upper end above the bed-plate the thrustcollar 65. The arm 62 has extending from its upper face the coupling stud `66 `whose reduced upper portion 67 is adapted to enter one of the apertures 58 of the disk 57 but which is normally disengaged from such disk by the action of a spring 68 interposed between the top of the arm 62 and theY upper end of a socket formed therefor around the rod 63y in the hub 59 ofthe disk y60.

Tapped into threaded apertures in the lower face of the annular iange 50 of the cam-wheel C are the screws 69 which secure the cam-wheel to the upper face of kthe disk 60.

The roller stud 48 Gameday the feed! actuating arm 17 is adapted to Aengage the cam-tracks 70 and 71 of the cam-wheel C which serveto move the feed-actuating arm toward and from the eccentric 11 and thus to control the normally effective action of the klatter with respect to the feed-dog. The

cam-track 70 acts in opposition to the spring 19 t0 permit the engagement of the arm "1,7 withthe actuating lcamy 11 only ,at the high point of the cam, and the cam-track 71 whollyy prevents such engagement, while serving by its inclination to cause a slight continuousfrmov'ement of the arm -17 from the cam-track 71 against the action ofthe f spring 19. As will'be observed the spring 19 servesr to normallyrdraw together the n arms 13 and 17 of the yielding yoke so as to lightly embrace thereccentricll, the spacing apart `of the wearing faces 12and 18 being determined by theadjusting screw carried by the tail ofthe arm 13 and 'whose point rests against'the extension of the armg 17, as represented in Fig. r3.

As shown more particularly in Figs.` 2 and 4 of the drawings, segmental gap 7 2 is formed yin one side of the cam-wheel to afford clearance for the roller-stud 48 so as yt0 per'mit the free vibration of the arm ,45

under the action of the `eccentric 11 upon the arm 17 during aportion of the rotation yof the cam-wheel thereby impartingto the feed-dog a group of feeding movements, each corresponding to the full throw of the 'feed-actuating eccentric.' A portion'of the outer cam-track 70 is also cut away to form a recess for the receptionof the adjustable channeled section 73 which is secured to the cam-wheel fby means of fastening screws 74,

passing through inclined slots in the section the feed-lifting arm 41, as represented in F ig. 3, so as to maintain Ithe feed-dog in elevated position and out of the range of movement of the lifting cam 42 while the rollerstud 48 performs its slow and continuous 4work-advancing movement under the control of the cam-track 71. The rod 76 has fixed thereon the hub 79 of aI depending arm 80 having a flat operative forward face adapted to contact with the head of the pin 47 to shift the roller-stud 48 forwardly under the action of a spring 81 surrounding the rod 76 and interposed between the hub 79 and a bearing member of the bed-plate. Fixed upon the rod 76 and extending upwardly through a slot formed in the bedplate is a stud 82 to the upper end of which is rigidly secured the segmental arm 83 carrying the roller-stud 84 adapted for engagement with the peripheral proj ection 85 of a cam disk 86 fixed upon thev upper end of the tubular hub 59 of the coupling disk 60.

The arm 83 is provided `adjacent the roller-stud 84 with a forwardly projecting linger-piece 87 and at the opposite end with a tooth 88 adapted for :engagement with a detaining shoulder afforded by the collar 89 upon the lateral arm 90 of a latch-lever fulcrumed upon the push-rod 91, thev latter being journaled in the bracket piece 92 secured to the standard B and extending downward-ly through an aperture in the bed-plate A. The latch-lever is formed with a rearwardly extending arm 93 carryingl the trip-Y ping-pin 94 and is normallyv pressed to bring the arm 90 into latching relation with the arm 83 by means of a spring 95 interposed between the same and the 'base of the standard B. rlhe. hub of the latch-lever rests upon the top of the bed-plate in contact ,with which it is maintained by means of a rod 96 secured in-the yl-ug.:97'; 'of'.k the latch-...f lever and having itsupper'fendextendedebenea-th the bracket-piece 92.

piece 92 is securedby xneanss of-ftheaset screw 98 the hub 99 of a plural-armed member comprising the coupling-c'cixtrolling` arm.

.103 in its extremity which embraces a tripping-rod 104 mounted in the bearing member 105 formed upon an arm 105 provided with a collar 106 securedupon rack-bar 107 which is journaled in a `suitable bearing member supportedby the bed-plate A and surrounded. by a spring acting normally to press the bar into extreme forward position. Formed inthe front 'side of the bar 107 is a series of ratchet teeth 108 (Fig. 5) extending forwardly over which is a pawl-retracting flange 109. In normal engagement with the ratchet-teeth 108 is the holding-pawl 110, fulcrumed upon a screw-pin 111 tapped into the bed-plate, and actuating pawl 112, fulcrumed upon the screw-pin 113 on the reduced forward end of the rearwardly extending arm 114 of a rock-lever, the latter being mounted upon the fulcrum-stud 115 tapped into the bed-plate and having a forwardly extending arm formed with afyoke 117 which embraces an eccentric 118 fixed upon the tubular hub 59 of the coupling disk 60. The tail of the pawl 112 is formed in its rearward edge with a socket to receive a spring 119 resting against the adjacent edge of the holding-pawl 110 whereby both pawls are maintained normally in operative relation with the ratchet-teeth 108. As will "be-observed, for each rotation of the controlling cam-wheel C the rock-lever 114 117 103 of the tripping-arm 102, 'and at the end of a predetermined number of rotations of the controlling cam engagesthe forked'ex- 'tremity of said arm, thereby shifting the movements 4toward, the forked extremity arm 100 in opposition to the spring 121 whose opposite ends are attached respectively to the collar 122, fixed tothe push-rod 91, `and the bracket piece k92, thereby retracting the contact-plate 101 from beneath the thrust-collar 65 and permitting the coupling-rod 63 to descend bythe action of its spring 68, thus uncoupling the controlling cam from, the continuously driven disk 57. y As the spring 121 is substantially stronger than the spring 68, it will be seen that the former `acts to maintain the push- -rodinnraised position with itsvstop-collar 1.91"'.N inengagement with the .under sidejof fthe'bra'cket piece 92 and the spring 68 comy'- pressedetoholdthe coupling stud 66 in opi erative engagement with the disk 57 .K 1

The overhanging arm D sustains the lusual 'fulcrnxn-'stud upon whichis mounted the presser-bar rlifting' rock-lever123 to the Arearward end of which is connectedy by means of the screw-pin 124 the apertured head f125 vof the treadle-rod 126 passing through the usual aperture in the bed-plate beneath which it is formed with the hooked .ex-

` tremity 127 to receive the lupper end of the chain 128 whose opposite end is in practice connected with an actuating treadle. The treadle-rod hasr secured thereon near its upper end the hub 129 yof a laterally extending rigid arm 130 extending above the top of the push-rod 91, and it is also provided slightly above the bed-plate with a xed collar 131 having in its lower face any inclined' cam face adapted vfor engagement with the tripping finger 94 of the latchlever, as shown in'Fig. 5.

In order to set the machine for a tacking vand stitching operation, the treadle-rod 126 is drawn down to lift the presser-foot above the throat-plate E for introduction ofr the work, which causes the engagement of the collar 131 with the tripping nger 94, thus disengaging the collar 89 from the tooth 88 of the arm 83 which causes the stop-rod 76 to advance under the action of its spring to' bring its forward extremity beneaththe member 77 of thefeed-lifting bar` 41 and simultaneously press the pin 47 forwardly to shift the roller-stud beneath the upper portion of the inclined cam-track 71. At the ksame time, the depression of the tripping-rod 104 under the action of the fork 103 causes the rocking of the counting-bar 107 wherein the iange109 engages the pins f upon the holding and actuating pawls 110 and 112 to forcibly retract the latter from counting-bar 107 into initial position and to lift the coupling-rod- 63 for rcoupling the disk 60 and the attached cam-wheel C with y the coupling-disk 57.!

The setting rof the machine in operation causes the cam-track 71 to slowly and continuously move arm 17 from feed actuating eccentric 11, thereby imparting a slow workfeeding movement tothe feed-dog y36, the latter being maintained inraisedv position by the stop-rod 76. Suchl movement of the ,feed-dog permits the stitching'mechanism, fully described in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,164,789 dated December 21, 1915, to produce an initial group of massed tacking stitches a (Fig. 6), to secure ,the cord to the upper edge of the tabi flap T.

Just as the roller-stud 48 reaches the end of the cam-track 71 and enters the clearance space 72, the nose or projection 85- of the cam 86 engages 'the roller-stud 84 of the arm 83 and thereby retracts the stop-rod 76 to disengage it from the feed-lifting arm] 41, simultaneously retracting the arm 80 to enable the roller-stud 48 to retract inte the i range `of action of the ycam-track 70. The arm 83 being held in retracted position by engagement with the latch-lever arm 90, the

arm 17 in full engagement with the eccentric 11 thereby permitting the production of the straightaway stitches b extending along the inner sides ofthe cord.

At the beginning of the second rotation of the controlling cam', the cam-track 70 acts upon the roller-stud 48v asa stop to reducer stitching proceeds withk the feed-'actuating the normal throw of arm 17, thereby shortening the feed-stroke to permit the production of the first few stitches of thev second tack, said stitches, c, being closely associated, but somewhat more widely spacedy than those of the rst tack. The encounter of the stud 48 with the adjustable cam-track section 73 now permits a somewhat greater amplitude of movement of the arm 17 whereby the spacing of a second series of stitches d in the tack is somewhat increased, while the presentationof the final section of camtrack 70-similar to the first causes the pro-y Aduction of a third series of closely associated stitches in the said tack similar to those rst formed, after which a series of straightaway stitches is formed undervthe conditions pren viously described.

The groups of feeding movements for the I tacking and straightawaystitches last describedare repeated a number of times `for n f which the counting device is adjusted. Asy

before explained, the shifting of the arm 102k rcauses ythe lateral movement kof the arm 100 to disengage'the wearing-plate 101 from the thrust-collar 6 5 thereby permitting the ycoupling-rod 103 to descend under thefactlon 4'of its spring 68 for uncoupling the control- 'lingcam' C fromv the coupling disk 57. vAs

this uncoupling takesplace while the stoprod 76 is retracted and the roller-stud 148 is in; register with the clearance gap 72 of the cam C, it willbe seen thatthe continued operation of the machine will now produce an indenite succession of parallel straightaway stitches, the stitch-forming and feeding mechanism acting under such conditions precisely the' 'same asr in any Aordinary straightaway stitching machine'.A f

It will be observed that the adjustment upward or downward of thecam-track secl tion 73 will effect a lengthening or shortening of-each of the groups of feeding movements after the first, by increasing or de-` creasing the length of'theintermedi'ate feeding movements of each oup. It is also evident that in case it 1s esired to produce a vsuccession of tacks 4composed of massed f tacking stitches,` the manual -1 shifting of lthe latch-lever by means of its finger piecedur- 1307-* measles? ing the production of straightaway stitching to restore the controlling mechanism to starting condition but without affecting the timing of the disengagement of the controlling cam under the action of the counting device.

It is obvious that the shifting of the feedregulator lever 32 will cause the shifting of the slide block 23 toward or from the rockshaft l5, thereby varying the length of the feeding movements for the straightaway stitches and the consequent spacing apart of the consecutive tacking groups.

While the controlling-cam driving element 57 is shown provided with wormdriven means for turning it continuously in the same direction, it is evident that any other suitable means may be used for imparting movement thereto. The roller-stud 48 constitutes normally operative cam follower which serves to restrict in greater or less degree, in conjunction with the camtrack` 70, the maximum work-advancing action of the feeding mechanism and which, in conjunction with cam-track 71, serves to impart work-advancing movements to the feeddog independently of the normally operative actuating means therefor. It is obvious that the mechanism employed to this end may be widely varied within the scope of the present invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, successively and independently acting means for moving the feed-dog in the same direction, and automatically acting means for controlling the successive action of said feed actuating means.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feedingmechanism comprising a feed-dog, means whereby said feed-dog is confined against lateral movement, a first actuating means for causing'said feed-dog to feed the work during a series of stitch-forming cycles, a second actuating means for causing said feed-dog to feed the work during another series of stitch-forming cycles, connections between said feed-dog and said first and second actuating'means and automatically acting controlling means for rendering said actuating means successively active.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feedingmechanism comprising a feed-dog, and means whereby the feed-dog is maintained in engagement with the work throughout a succession of stitch-forming cycles and movedin the same direction in consecutive cycles, and is given a plurality of rising and falling and reciprocatory feeding movements in another succession of stitch-forming cycles.

4. In' a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprislng a feed-dog, and

means whereby the feed-dog is maintained in operative relation with the work and moved continuously in the same direction to advance the work during one succession of stitch-forming cycles and is given a plurality of rising and falling and reciprocatory feeding movements in another succession of stitch-forming cycles.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog and no1'- mally acting lifting vand reciprocating means therefor for advancing the work for each stitch-forming cycle, of means for causing the feed-dog to remain lelevated and to move in the same direction in consecutive cycles of a series of stitch-forming cycles.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, feedlifting and reciprocating cams and members connected with the said feed-dog and normally maintained within the range of action of said cams, of automatically acting means whereby said feed-dog lifting and reciprocating cams are rendered ineffective during the production of a succession of stitches and are permitted to thereafter perform their functions in the actuation of the feed- 7. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, feed-lifting and reciprocating cams and members connected with the said feed-dog and no1:- mally maintained within the range of action of said cams, of automatically acting means for varying the effective action of the feeddog reciprocating cam upon the feed-dog iny advancing the work in the production of successive groups of stitches, and controlling means whereby said feed-dog lifting and reciprocating cams may be rendered ineffective in the production of a succession of stitches and are permitted to thereafter perform their functions in the actuation of the feed-dog. Y

8.'In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog feed-lifting and reciprocating cams and membersV connected with the said feed-dog. and normally maintained within the range of action ofsaid cams, of automatically acting means for varying the effective action of the feeddog reciprocating cam upon the feed-dog in advancing the work in the production of successive groups of stitches, controlling means whereby said feed-dog lifting and reaol will

,v atingfcam, a yoke constructed with relatively Y yielding members embracing said cam, an-

y ating cam, a yoke constructed with relatively yielding members embracing said cam, an

fos

ciprocating cams may be rendered ineffectivel in the productlon of a'succession of stitches and are permitted to thereafter perform their functions in-the actuation of the feed-dog,y

and means for rendering said controlling means ineEective.

9. In a sewing machine, the combinationV members to maintain the feed-dog lifted for a succession of stitch-formingl cycles, and

means independent of the feed-dogv reciproeating cam for imparting to the feed-dog Y wlth stitch-forming and feeding mechanism,

during said succession of stitch-forming cycles progressive movement in the 'same direction.

.10. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, feed-lifting vand reciprocating cams and springpressed members connected with the said feed-dog and normally maintained f within the .range of actionof said cams, ofa'stop member adapted to be thrown intov and out ofthe range of movement of one ofsaid members to maintain the feed-dog lifted for a succession of stitch-forming cyclesh and means for rendering said feed-dog reciprov eating cam ineffective and for moving the feed-dog in the same direction in consecutive cycles. y f

11. In a` sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprisingy a feed-dog', an actuoperative connection between. one of Said members and the vfeed-dog, and variably acting means for limiting the movement of the last-named yoke member under th action of said cam.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanisms, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, an actuoperative connection between one of said members and the feed-dog, and means includingv a stop member formed with a plu- -rality of diii'erently'acting portions ladapted for successive presentation tok an element of said operative connection, whereby the` length of throw of the feed-dog is varied.

4 13. In a sewin machine, the combination with stitch-forming and feeding mechanism including work-engaging means and means operating to impart work-feeding movements thereto, of feed-controlling means comprisingk a movable cam 'member provided with-a plurality of operative pdr- `tions', and a spring-pressed follower adapted for successive engagement with said op-k erative portions of the cam and having a lconnection with said feeding mechanism whereby the action of the latter is controlled.

14. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, an actuating cam, a spring-pressed 4follower therefor, an operative connectlon between sald follower and the feed-dog, a stud carried by- I an element of said operative connection, and

a movable cam formed with a plurality of operative rportions for engagement by said stud, one of which portions is adjustable relatively to the adjacent portion.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination of feed-controlling means comprising'a rotary cam formed with a track in. segmentalv portions of which the one is adustable relatively to theother, and a spring-pressed follower adaptedl for successive engagement with said operative portions ofthe cam and .having a connection-with said feeding mechanism whereby the action of the latter is controlled.

16. In a sewingmachine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprisinga feed-dog, an actuating cam, a spring-pressed follower therefor, an operative connection between said follower andthe feed-dog, a stud carried byl an element of said operative connection, and a rotary cam formed wlth a'track 1n segmental portions of whichfthe one is adjustlio adapted for engagement separately with each of said cam-tracks,` and means for shifting said stud endwise.

l18. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of

feeding mechanism comprising ya feed-dog,

an actuating cam, a spring-pressed 'follower therefor, an operative connection between said follower and the feed-dog, a stud carried by and movably sustained upon an element of said operative connection,a movable cam provided with a plurality of cam-tracks arranged side-by-side and ktransversely r`of said stud with which they are adapted for engagement, and means for shifting said stud endwise to effect its alternate "engagement with said cam-tracks.

1 19. In ar sewing machine, the combina- ,for unrestricted movement tion with stitch-forming mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, an actuating cam, a spring-pressed follower therefor, an operative connection between said follower and the feed-dog, a stud carried by and movably sustained upon an element of said operative connection, a rotary cam provided with relatively inclined segmental cam-tracks, and means for shifting said stud endwise to effect its alternate .eni gagement with'said cam-tracks. A

20. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a` feed-dog, an

actuating cam therefor, a spring-pressed folfor said stud whereby. it is ...permitted to move freely under the action of said 'actuatlng cam. c

21. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, an actuating cam therefor, 'a spring-pressed follower for said cam, an operative connection between said follower and the feed-dog, a stud carried by an element of said operative connection, and a rotary vcam ladapted for engagement by said stud and formed with a segmental cam-track in adjacent sections, one of which is adjustable relatively to the other and with a clearance recess adjacent one of said sections.

22. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming and feeding mechanism, of feed-controlling means comprising a rotary cam provided with a plurality of' concentric segmental cam-tracks, and adjacent clearance recess, a spring--pressed endwise'movable stud adapted for engagement separately with each of said cam-tracksand within said clearance recess, and means for shifting said stud endwise.

23. In asewing machine,y the combination with stitch-formlng mechanism, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, an actuating cam, a spring-pressed follower therefor, an operative connection between said follower and the feed-dog, a stud carried by and movably sustained upon an'element of said operative connection, a movable cam provided with a plurality of cam-tracks 'arranged side-by-side and transversely of said stud with which they are adapted for engagement and with a clearance recess for said stud adjacent said cam-tracks, and means for shifting said stud endwise to eifect its alternate engagement with said cam-tracks.

24. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, and feeding 'mechanism comprising a feed-dog, 'an actuating cam, and an operative connection between said cam and feed-dog, of a rotary controlling cam adapted for operative connection with said feeding mechanism, a constantly moving driving element therefor, and releasable means for connecting said controlling cam with its driving element for rotation in unison with the latter.

25. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of feedingmechanism comprising a work-engaging element, an actuating cam, a cam-follower, and connections between said cam-follower and said work-engaging element, of an automatically operating controlling cam, acting on said cam-follower .to vary the limit of movement thereof in one direction, thereby modifying the action of said actuating cam on said work-engaging element.

26. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism comprising a feed-dog, an actuating cam rotating at a given speed, and operative connections including a cam-follower between said cam and said feed-dog, of a controlling cam, rotating at a slower speed and adapted to control the action of said rst mentioned cam on the cam-follower.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

ALBERT H. DE VOE.

Witnesses:

W. LEE IIELMs, H. A. KORNEMANN, Jr. 

